Somehow the health care debate has become about insurance companies - and I agree that their future profitability is questionable. But there will be no improvement in the overall cost to America until we align the decision about what procedure/medication to buy with the person paying the bill. Neither company-paid nor government-paid insurance does that.
Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [View article]
A small point of appreciation. The note that WMI is changing their ticker to WM will save me the time that I would have otherwise spent kicking my computer and calling my broker. You are tops.
Selling Hartford, Buying Canadian National [View article]
CNI also is the consensus best operator in the North American railroad industry - best work rules; best network; best scheduling practices. In addition to the East-West route, they own the former Illinois Central Gulf Railroad and have bought a number of feeder lines in the upper midwest. They are also active in West Coast Canadian ports, providing and alternative to the high cost US ports. The downside is exposure to the basic materials and agricultural-based Canadian economy, but "this too shall pass."
Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [View article]
The globalization subject is part of the toxic assets "bad bank" issue. From whom would we buy these mortgage-backed collateralized debt obligations? From banks only, or hedge funds too? From American institutions only? What about American branches of foreign institutions, or foreign branches of American institutions? Isn't it all fungible anyway? Can you imagine how innovative the bankers will be in moving assets around to get them under the program? Bush's team eventually figured this out - Obama's doesn't seem to have yet. And the congress is clueless.
Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [View article]
Eli keeps getting better. Between the headline news, the overnight foreign markets, the earnings reports, and the day's economic calendar, what more material could a reader want? One hopes that Eli doesn't get dragged into the trap of doing a lot of analysis.
12 Cheap Growth Companies [View article]
Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [View article]
Selling Hartford, Buying Canadian National [View article]
Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [View article]
Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [View article]
Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News [View article]